An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1 eBook

The Francis schooner sailed on the 21st with
dispatches for Norfolk Island; the king’s ships,
the Reliance and Supply, began the necessary
preparations for their intended voyage to the Cape
of Good Hope, and the first day of September was fixed
for their departure.

Toward the latter end of the month two men from each
officer were ordered to join the public gangs, it
being found wholly impracticable to erect without
more assistance any of the buildings which had now
become indispensably necessary. Storehouses were
much wanted; the barracks were yet unfinished; houses
were to be built for the assistant-surgeons, those
which had been erected soon after our arrival being
now no longer tenable. A church too, of more
substantial materials than lath and plaster, was wanted
here and at Parramatta; as well as court-houses, or
places where the courts of civil and criminal judicature
might be held, and where the magistrates might meet
to do the public business.

At Sydney, the bricklayers’ gang was employed
during this month in erecting a temporary court-house
of lath and plaster; as it was uncertain when one
to be built of bricks could be begun; and great inconvenience
was felt by the judge-advocate and other magistrates
in being obliged to transact business at their own
houses.

We had at last the satisfaction of seeing usefully
employed some of the cattle brought hither in the
Endeavour. A careful person being found
to conduct them, the timber-carriage was now, instead
of men, drawn by six or eight stout oxen; and all
the timber which was wanted for building, or other
purposes, was brought to the pits by them, both here
and at Parramatta. This was some saving of men,
but eight people were still employed with each carriage.

The carpenters continued erecting the temporary shed
for provisions; the town gang was employed delivering
the storeships; and at Toongabbie some women were
employed in making hay, intended to be put on board
the king’s ships for the cattle to be purchased
at the Cape for the colony.

One man, Matthew Farrel, died in this month.
He had been hurt in an affray with some watchmen in
the night of the 17th of March last.

CHAPTER XXXII

Two men killed; consequent regulations
The Britannia hired to proceed to England
Report of the natives
The Francis arrives from Norfolk Island
Public works
Deaths
A criminal court assembled
A settler executed for murder
The Susan sails
A civil court held
An American ship arrives from Boston
A long-boat lost
Deaths
Weather
A temporary church opened at Parramatta
Appointments
The Supply sails for Norfolk Island and the
Cape
Account of stock
Land in cultivation, and numbers in the colony
A murder committedBritannia sails for England
General observations